Chagas Cardiomyopathy as the Etiology of Suspected Coronary Microvascular Disease. A Comparison Study with Suspected Coronary Microvascular Disease of Other Etiologies.

Background: Chagas disease (CD) as neglected secondary form of suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD).

Objectives: Comparison of patients with CMD related to CD (CMD-CE) versus patients with CMD caused by other etiologies (CMD-OE).

Methods: Of 1292 stable patients referred for invasive coronary angiography to elucidate the hemodynamic pattern and the cause of angina as a cardinal symptom in their medical history, 247 presented normal epicardial coronary arteries and 101 were included after strict exclusion criteria.

Use of computed tomography and automated software for quantitative analysis of the vasculature of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: To perform a quantitative analysis of the lung parenchyma and pulmonary vasculature of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) images, using automated software.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the CTA findings and clinical records of 45 patients with PH (17 males and 28 females), in comparison with a control group of 20 healthy individuals (7 males and 13 females); the mean age differed significantly between the two groups (53 ± 14.7 vs.

Pilot study testing the effect of physical training over the myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with primary microvascular angina.

Background: Primary microvascular angina (PMA) is a common clinical condition associated to negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and reduced physical capacity. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aerobic physical training (APT) on myocardial perfusion, physical capacity, and QOL in patients with PMA.

Methods: We investigated 12 patients (53.

Use of the pressure wire method for measuring pulmonary arterial pressures in patients with pulmonary atresia.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyse the use of the pressure wire for the acquisition of intravascular pulmonary pressures in the presence of pulmonary atresia and systemic-dependent pulmonary blood flow.

Methods: In this study, we included patients with pulmonary atresia and systemic-dependent pulmonary circulation referred for diagnostic catheterisation for evaluation of pulmonary pressures during the period from April, 2012 to April, 2013. The systemic-pulmonary collateral arteries were selectively catheterised, and in the absence of a critical stenosis angiographically determined; the pressure wire was introduced in these arteries to reach the main pulmonary artery, and/or lobar, and segmental branches.

Comparison of vascular response to the everolimus-eluting stent versus the paclitaxel-eluting stent: intravascular ultrasound results from the SPIRIT III trial.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular response of the everolimus-eluting stent (EES) compared with the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) using serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods And Results: Data were obtained from the SPIRIT III trial, a multicentre, 2:1 randomised, controlled study comparing EES and PES in de novo native coronary artery lesions. IVUS images were eligible for volumetric analysis at eight-month follow-up in 158 lesions (EES: 113, PES: 45).

Extrinsic compression of left main coronary artery from aneurysmal dilation of pulmonary trunk in a adolescent: involution after surgery occlusion of sinus venosus atrial septal defect and pulmonary trunk plasty for reduction.

We report the case of an adolescent referred with initial diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Non-invasive investigation disclosed a sinus venous atrial septal defect with pulmonary hypertension. The hemodynamic study confirmed diagnosis, and also showed extrinsic compression of left main coronary artery by pulmonary trunk.

[Post-extrasystolic potentiation in chronic Chagas' heart disease. A radiologic contrast ventriculography study].

Objective: To determine the existence and frequency of the phenomenon of post-extrasystolic potentiation in dyssynergic myocardial areas of patients with chronic Chagas' heart disease studied by use of radiologic contrast ventriculography.

Methods: This study is a semiquantitative retrospective analysis of radiologic contrast ventriculography in patients with chronic Chagas' disease, who were consecutively studied to assess the mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia.

Results: Of the 72 patients initially included, in only 20 patients was possible the ventriculographic analysis for the purposes of this study.